Expedia Group, Inc. appointed new CEO

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.


On February 25, 2021, Expedia Group, Inc. (the "Company") entered into an Employment Agreement (the "Employment Agreement") with Peter Kern, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice Chairman, which is effective as of February 25, 2021 and has a term that expires on April 22, 2024 ("Term"), after which Mr. Kern is expected to continue to serve as the Company's Executive Vice Chairman at least through June 1, 2026. 


Compensation


Under the terms of the Employment Agreement, Mr. Kern will receive an annualized base salary of $1,000,000. In addition, Mr. Kern will receive a one-time payment of $728,000, representing base salary from April 22, 2020, his first day as sole Chief Executive Officer of the Company, through February 25, 2021, during which time Mr. Kern did not receive any base salary. The one-time payment reflects a 25% reduction from May 1, 2020 until October 31, 2020, that the Company instituted in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.


Severance


Upon a termination of Mr. Kern's employment by the Company without cause (other than by reason of his death or disability) or by Mr. Kern for good reason, subject to his execution and non-revocation of a release and compliance with the restrictive covenants described below: 


-the Company will continue to pay his base salary through the longer of (i) the completion of the Term, subject to a maximum of 36 months and (ii) twelve months; provided that such payments will be offset by any amount earned by Mr. Kern from another employer during such time period;

-except as described below with respect to the equity grants made on February 25, 2021 described below (the "New Equity Awards"), which have special vesting terms, equity awards held by Mr. Kern that otherwise would have vested during the twelve-month period following termination of employment will accelerate; provided that any equity awards that vest less frequently than annually shall be treated as though such awards vested annually;

-except as described below with respect to the New Equity Awards, Mr. Kern will have eighteen months following the date of termination to exercise any vested stock options granted by the Company (including stock options accelerated pursuant to the terms of the Employment Agreement) or, if earlier, through the scheduled expiration date of the options; and

-the Company will pay Mr. Kern in a lump sum an amount equal to 12 months of monthly premiums of group health plan continuation coverage under COBRA at the level of coverage in which Mr. Kern participated.


Restrictive Covenants


Mr. Kern will be restricted from competing with the Company and from soliciting Company employees and business partners during the eighteen-month period following his termination of employment for any reason.


Equity Grants


In connection with Mr. Kern entering into the Employment Agreement, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") approved the following long-term equity awards to Mr. Kern:


-an option ("Option Award") to purchase 2,275,000 shares of Company common stock ("Shares"), with a strike price of $157.18 and a seven-year term that cliff vests on June 1, 2024, subject to Mr. Kern's continued employment with the Company through the vesting date; 


-a restricted stock unit award ("RSU Award") covering 1,000,000 Shares that vests as set forth below, subject to Mr. Kern's continued employment with the Company through the applicable vesting date:


Vesting Date # of Shares Covered 

Tranche 1 RSUs June 1, 2024 500,000 

Tranche 2 RSUs June 1, 2025 250,000 

Tranche 3 RSUs June 1, 2026 250,000 


Upon a termination of Mr. Kern's employment by the Company without cause, by Mr. Kern for good reason or due to Mr. Kern's death or disability, subject to his execution and non-revocation of a release and compliance with the restrictive covenants described above the Option Award and the RSU Award will vest with respect to the number of Shares set forth in the tables below and the vested portion of the Option Award will remain exercisable until the earlier of the two-year anniversary of the termination date and the end of the seven-year term.


Mr. Kern is not currently expected to receive additional equity compensation during the term of the Employment Agreement, though the Compensation Committee retains the discretion to grant equity awards as it deems appropriate, including to Mr. Kern.


Option Award


Termination Date 

Before June 1, 2021 June 1, 2021 through May 31, 2022 June 1, 2022 through May 31, 2023 June 1, 2023 through May 31, 2024 

1,137,500 1,706,250 2,275,000 2,275,000 


RSU Award


Termination Date 

Before June 1, 2021 June 1, 2021 through May 31, 2022 June 1, 2022 through May 31, 2023 June 1, 2023 through May 31, 2024 June 1, 2024 through May 31, 2025 June 1, 2025 through May 31, 2026 


Tranche 1 RSUs 250,000 375,000 500,000 500,000 N/A N/A 


Tranche 2 RSUs 100,000 150,000 200,000 250,000 250,000 N/A 


Tranche 3 RSUs 83,333 125,000 166,666 208,611 250,000 250,000 


The descriptions of the Employment Agreement and the New Equity Awards are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of those agreements, copies of which are filed as Exhibits 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3, respectively, herewith and are incorporated by reference herein.